Spellings Extols Excellence In Student Achievement

Spellings Extols Excellence In Student Achievement, Georgia Schools Honored for Dramatic Gains, High Performance, Secretary's Remarks.

ATLANTA -- U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings tonight honored 83 Georgia schools for excellence in academic performance, saying they "put student achievement first." Spellings attended the Georgia Schools of Excellence in Student Achievement Banquet in Atlanta to recognize the 20 Georgia public and public charter schools chosen for that distinction this year. Ten are in the state's top 10 percent as measured by student achievement in reading/language arts and math. Ten others have demonstrated the greatest gains in those subjects over the past three years.

"You have not forgotten what makes a school truly excellent," Spellings said. "It's not how many seats it fills or hours it stays open, but how well its children learn, period. The people in this room tonight have shown us all what is possible when we see our children's potential and push them to reach it."

"Some schools have overcome great challenges and made great strides forward," Spellings said. "Others have achieved great academic heights. But all share one great philosophy: that student achievement comes first."

Sixty-three other schools were honored as Title I Distinguished Schools, Title I public and public charter schools that have met or exceeded Georgia's adequate yearly progress goals for three or more years running, or that have made the greatest gains in closing their achievement gaps.

"Day in and day out, these schools carry out the president's mission to teach every child and leave no child behind," Spellings said.

Spellings noted the elements that educators say have contributed to this performance, including dedicated teachers and support staff, involved parents and a focus on accountability under the No Child Left Behind Act.

One educator, Principal Sheila Brock of Downtown Elementary Magnet School, a Title I Distinguished School, called No Child Left Behind "the single most unifying factor in my 26-plus years of education," according to Spellings. Because of it, Brock said, test results "are now being used to draw a road map to future success."

"The No Child Left Behind Act has indeed changed the education landscape in this country," Spellings added. "It has taught us all a new equation: high standards plus accountability plus resources equal results. While a few try to undermine the law in the courts and elsewhere, every one of you in this room has chosen to make it work."

Spellings also praised Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and State Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox for the state's success under the law. President Bush has recognized Georgia for its progress in raising student achievement and narrowing the achievement gap.

In addition, more than 94 percent of Georgia's teachers have achieved "highly qualified" status.

"You've given us reason not just to be proud, but also optimistic about the future of education in America," said Spellings. "And you're getting it done by following the 'bright line' goals of No Child Left Behind."

Under the law, all teachers of core academic subjects must be highly qualified in their subject by the end of the 2005-06 school year. In her remarks, Spellings noted that the president has proposed the Teacher Incentive Fund to attract the best educators to serve in the most challenging schools. And the U.S. Department of Education has more than tripled loan forgiveness rates for special education, math and science teachers who choose to work at high-need schools.

"Schools that could benefit the most from good teachers often have the most difficult time attracting them," Spellings said. "We are working to change that."

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education ### FOR RELEASE: April 29, 2005 Contact: (202) 401-1576